§ 51. Mr. Ken HargreavesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to discover the needs of the taxi trade and its passengers.
§ Mr. PortilloI have recently asked the Department's transport and road research laboratory to conduct a survey of taxi journeys in London to provide information on the current demand for and pattern of taxi journeys. The main survey will be in May with a pilot run on 21 March. TRRL has in the past reported on taxis in provincial towns and I am arranging for this work to be updated. We also recently conducted a consultation exercise to seek the views of all interested parties on possible changes to taxi and private hire vehicle legislation.